Coin chute



June 1, 1937.

W. A. TRATSVCH ET AL com CHUTE Filed April 20, 1936 INVENTORS WallerATra fsc/z and BY Bernhard C Gran THEIR ATTORNE Patented 1 June 1, 1937 PATENT OFFICE COIN CHU'I'E Walter A. much and We 0.6mm. Ohicago, 111., assignora to A. B. '1. Manufacturing Cfigmpany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Application April 20, mo. Serial No. "as:

' 6 Claims. (01. 194-01) This invention relates to a coin chute. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coin chute which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide certain improvements upon the coin 'chute shown in our prior Patent No. 2,026,921

issued January '1, 1936.

It has been found, from experience in the art of coin chutes, that persons, and especially boys, who play coin-operated machines and devices, .will often attempt to operate the coin chute of the same by fraudulently inserting a coin into the coin aperture of the slide, then pushing the coin slide in far enough to operate the machine or device controlled thereby, and then retracting the coin and the slide, this being accomplished in a number of different ways, such as, for example, by attaching a string or analogous flexible element to the coin before inserting the same into the coin slide, whereupon, when the coin slide and the device, machine, or apparatus controlled thereby has been operated the player will then pull back or retract the coin by means of the string. It has, therefore, been found to be possible to fraudulently operate the coin chute shown and described in our aforesaid patent, as I .well as other coin chutes, in this manner.

An additional object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide in the coin chuteshown and described in the aforesaid patent a novel device for preventing fraudulent operation of the same in the manner hereinbefore described.

7 Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showingv the preferred form of construction, and in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the coin chute shown and described in the aforesaid patent and 5 having the present invention embodied there- 4 in;

f Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken on line 2-4 in Fig. 2; 50 Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view on line 4-4 in Fig. 1 showing certain of the parts in the position which they assume when the coin'is drop-.

ping into the display pocket;

Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective detail view; and

MIISWMVB view,partiy-insectlon,

showing the new dog which has been added to the coin chuteof our above-identified patent.

A preferred form of the present invention is shown in the drawing, and is there shown, for

the purpose of illustration, as associated with the coin slide shown and described in our aforesaid patent, although it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to use in connection with the coin chute shown and described in our aforesaid patent but may be used with other types of coin chutes.

The coin chute shown in the accompanying .drawing is therein generally indicated at In, and

includes a guide structure ll, anda coin slide 12 carried thereby; the guide structure Ii including a mounting or faceplate by means of which the coin chute Il may be mounted in a wall of the cabinet or casing of a coin-controlled device, machine, or apparatus.

Provided in the coin slide 12 is a coin-receiving aperture 21 and formed in the slide l2.at diametrically opposite points upon the peripheryof the coin aperture 21 are depressed portions or teeth 32 and 2! (Fig. 2) which function to move the coin or token disposed in the coin aperture '21 in opposite directions, in a manner which is well understood in the art.

Provided in the coin slide 12 is an elongated slot 21- (Fig. 2) and mountedin the guide structure H above the slide I2 is a stop 46 which includes a portion 4 I that projects or extends downward to a point substantially in the same horizontal plane with the top surface of the coin slide 12 (Fig. 2).

The coin chute II includes latch dogs 3', 26 and 21 which are pivotally mounted on the guide structure II for engagement in the coin aperture 21 of the coin slide l2 so as to prevent operation of the coin slide 12 if no coin or token, or if a coin or token or slug having a thickness or diameter less than that of the intended coin ortoken, or if an apertured or slotted slug, or the hire, is disposed in the coin aperture 21; this arrangement of the dogs 35," 26 and 31 and the function thereof being well known in the art.

. Mounted on, or formed as a part of the upper wall of the guide structure I I, as may be desired, is an annular member or ring I! in which is provided a coin displaying sight opening 14; and formed in the guide structure ll, below the slide I2, is a horizontal shelf, 18. Likewise formed ,in the guide structure H, below the coin slide l2 and adjacent the shelf I0, is a coin display pocket 11 (Fig. 2), this display pocket l1 being disposed in registration with the sight opening It.

of! the frontor inner end of the shelf II.

Formed as an integral extension of the annular member I3 is a coin deflector 53 (Fig. 2).

A bracket or support I5 forms the bottom wall of the coin display pocket I] (Fig. 2) and slidably mounted upon the bracket I5 below the coin display pocket i4I'I and below the shelf i6 is a slide bar I8 in which is provided a coin receiving aperture l9; and carried by this slide bar it and'projecting upwardly'therefrom, adjacent the inner end of the same, is a pin 20, this pin 29 projecting into the slot 25 which formed in the coin slide I2.

Having one end attached to the slide bar I8, as at 22, and having its other end attached to the bottom wall 85 of the coin display pocket iii-471, as at 23, is a resetting spring 24 by means of which the slide bar It is normally urged (right to left, Figs. 1, 2 and 3) so as to dispose the coin discharge aperture 89 therein inv registration with the coin display pocket H-H; the slide bar l8 being stopped in this position by the engagement of its transverse edge 52 (Fig. 3) with a pair of bosses 26 and 26 which are formed on the bottom wall of the guide structure (I 8 Provided in the coin slide 82 is a sight opening 28 (Fig. 2), and the coin slide I2 is normally urged (right to left, Fig. 6) by its resetting spring 87, so as to dispose the sight opening 28 formed therein in registration with the coin display or sight opening it which is formed in or upon the top wall of the guide structure H.

Mounted on the guide structure II, above the slide i2, is a magnet 42;

Having one end portion 29 attached to the annular member l3 and having its other end portion or arm 36) projecting downwardly through the coin display or sight opening it is a spring 3 Pivotally mounted on the guide structure It, below the coin slide 82, as at 49, is a dog 50, and this dog 5t has an end portion 55 which projects upwardly (at one end of the depressed ledge or supporting wall it), toward the slot 28 which is formed in the coin slide I2; the dog 52 being urged, by a spring 5 5 (Fig. 3), in a direction to project the upper end portion II- thereoi' into the slot 2i, for a reason to be explained presently.

Provided on the guide structure II, above the coin slide i2, is a guard plate 55 which forms the subject matter of the applicants copending application, Serial No. 43,152 filed October 2, 1935.

Operation The coin slide I2 .is normally disposed, by the action of the resetting spring 47, in coin-receiving position, with the sight opening 22 in the'coin slide I2 disposed in registration with the sight opening I4, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and when a coin is inserted into the coin aperture 2'! oi the coin slide I2 and the latter is pushed inwardly (left to right, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the coin or token disposed in the coin aperture 21 of the slide I2 is carried by the slide I! along the upper surface of the bottom wall 32 of the guide structure II, and falls from the latter into the pocket, or onto the shelf I6, whereupon, upon further movement of the coin slide I2 .the coin or token'disposed in the coin aperture 21 of the coin slide I2 will be angled-downwardly, by the deflector "(1 1 4) Further inward movement of the coin slide I2 and the slide bar -ls wili then cause the coin or token to drop onto the uppersurface of the rear portion of the slidebar II.

The coin or token is thus deposited on the upper surface of the slide bar I8, and as the coin slide I2 is pushed inwardly (left to right, Figs. 1, 2, and 3), the shoulder 33 formed in the coin slide I2 engages the pin 20, which is carried by the slide I8, whereupon the slide I2 and the slide 18 move together as a unit, and when the slides I2 and I8 are returned to their normal or initial positions the coin or token which has previously been deposited on the upper surface of the lower slide it! falls into the coin aperture I9 of the slide I8 wherein it is exposed to view through the registered sight openings I 4 and 28.

A magnetic token or disc is prevented, by the coaction of the stop -46 and magnet 42, from entering the display pocket HII since if a magnetic disc or token is inserted into the coin aperture 2! and the slide I2 is pushed inwardly the magnet 12 will hold the magnetic disc up in the plane of the coin slide I2 so that it will abut the stop ll and be prevented from falling onto the-shelf l8.

The spring 3i retains a coin in the display pocket lh-ll and against dislodgment therefrom if the coin chute and associated apparatus are shaken or inverted from their normal position, thereby preventing fraudulent dislodgment of the coin from the coin display pocket i4--l'|.

In the event that a person attempts to operate the coin chute fraudulently by attempting to retract the coin from the display pocket M-Il, in any manner, as by attaching a string or analogous flexible article to the coin or token prior to inserting the coin or token into the coin aperture 2? of the slide i2 and pushing the latter inwardly, the coin thus sought to be retracted will be prevented, by the dog 5Il5l (after it has been deposited 'in the display pocket I6'fl) from being retracted or pulled back, since if an attempt is made to pull the coin back the same will bear against the nose or upper end portion SI of the dog 50 which projects into the slot 2|. manner, fraudulent operation of the coin chute by retracting a coin therefrom is prevented.

While the dog 50 has been shown, for the purpose of illustration, as associated with the coin chute shown and described in our aforesaid patent, it is to be understood that it may be used in conjunction with other types of coin chutes and is not limited to use with the visible display type of coin chute shown and described in our aforesaid patent.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:.

1. A coin chute comprising a guide structure,

and having an elongated slot formed therein, said guide structure including a wall disposed below the said coin slide for supporting a coin in the said coin aperture of the same throughout at least a part of the inward movement or opera- .tive stroke of said coin slide, a stop member pivotally mounted on the saidguide structure below the said coin slide and havingsporttcnnor- -65 a coin slide carried by the said guide structure having a coin-receiving aperture formed therein one end of said supporting wall, and means normally urging the said member in a direction to project the said portion of said member into said slot at one end of said supporting wall whereby a coin inserted into the said coin aperture of said slide and moved by the latter along, and off from,

the said supporting wall of said coin chute will be prevented from being retracted along said supporting wall by engagement with the said upwardly projecting portion of said member together with stationary means above said stop member and cooperable therewith to tilt a coin downwardly from said wall.

2. A coin chute comprising a guide structure, a coin, slide carried by the said guide structure having a coin-receiving aperture formed therein and having an elongated slot formed therein, said guide structure including a wall disposed be low the said coin slide for supporting a coin in the said coin aperture of the same throughout at least a partof the inward movement or operative stroke of said coin slide, a dog pivotally\ mounted on the said guide structure below the. said coin slide and having a portion normally projecting upwardly intothe said slot at one end of said supporting wall, and a spring normally urging the said dog in a direction to project the said portion of said member into said slot at one end of said supporting wall whereby a coin inserted into the said coin aperture of said slide and moved by the latter along and off from, the said supporting wall of said coin chute will be prevented from being retracted along said supporting wall by engagement with the said upwardly projecting portion of said dog and means including a depending finger above said dog and cooperable therewith to guide a coin carried in said slide aperture downwardly off of said supporting wall. I

3. Fraud prevention means for use with coin devices including a reciprocable coin slide having a coin bearing aperture and movable in a frame member to position a coin in said aperture for discharge movement out of said aperture to a level immediately below the said slide, said means comprising a stop member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from said slide and having a part normally projecting toward said slide in the region between the level of said slide and said lower level, and yieldable means urging said pivotally mounted member toward said slide, the said pivotable member being movable away from the slide by contact with a coin being moved thereby toward and onto said lower level and thereafter being movable by said yieldable means toward said slide to prevent the movement of said coin back toward the slide and aperture thereof, and means, including a yieldable presser finger positioned behind said stop member in the direction of said discharge movement, for tilting a said coin cooperably with said stop member downwardly toward said lower lever.

4. Fraud prevention means for coinslide devices including a frame member having an open sight well on the bottom of which a deposited coin may rest, together witha coin bearing slide reciprocable in the frame to move a deposited coin toward said well for gravitating movement into the same and below the level of said slide, said prevention means comprising a dog pivoted on said frame and having a part positioned adjacent said well to intercept the movement of a coin from said slide into said well, and yieldable means normally urging said dog into intercept- "ing position, said dog being moved out of the path of a coin passing into said well upon movement of saldslide and the dog thereafter being urged back toward said slide to prevent the movement of acoin deposited in the well back toward the slide, a depending guide finger above said dog and positioned behind the same toward said well, and a yieldable finger also depending into said well behind said first finger and toward said well.

5. A coin chute including a frame having a coin receiving well therein, a coin' slide mounted for reciprocable movementin said frame relative to said well and having a coin receiving aperture therein for registration with said well by movement of said slide, a dog mounted on said frame and having a nose portion normally positioned in the path of movement of a coin moved by said slide into said well, said dog being movable by said coin into ineffective position to permitto prevent return movement of the coin back-toward said slide, a depending guide finger positioned above said nose portion and cooperable with the latter to tilt'a coin in a direction downwardly into said well as a said coin is moved over and past said nose portion. 7

6. A device of the class described including a frame having a coin receiving well therein, a coin slide having acoin bearing aperture therein and mounted in said frame for reciprocable movement relative to said well to register said aperture with the opening of the latter and having an elongated slot communicating with said aperture and extended in the direction of movement of said slide, a dog mounted-on said frame andhaving a nose portion receivable in said slot, spring means for said dog and normallyurging the same to position said nose in said slot, a first guide finger extended from a side of said well at an angle into the same opposite the nose of said dog and a second and yieldable guide finger also extended into said well at an angle and spaced away from said first finger toward the center of the well, said fingers being cooperable with said dog to tilt a coin in a direction downin the manner set forth.

WALTER A. TRATSCH. BERNHARD C. GRUNIG. 

